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Best nursing schools in Illinois: Largest to smallest

Everybody has a slightly different learning style, so when you research different colleges it’s important to take the size of the student body into consideration. Knowing your learning style can help you to pick a nursing program that capitalizes on your strengths. Large public universities such as Illinois State University boast a wide range of exciting events and cater to their diverse student population. Smaller private colleges, on the other hand, offer low student-to-faculty ratios that provide significant individual attention. Regardless of what type of learner you are, there are over 120 different schools with nursing programs in Illinois, so there is truly something for everyone.

Whether it’s a large public school or small private school, there are plenty of employment opportunities for nurses at all levels in Illinois. There are currently around 200,000 nurses employed in the state, and according to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, the nursing profession is projected to have extremely high job growth in the years ahead. Major employers such as Tenet Health System and Northwest Community Hospital are always looking for highly qualified nurses to help satisfy their growing need for healthcare professionals.

If you are interested in learning more about starting your nursing career in Illinois, take a look at the below list of the best nursing schools in the state. The list is organized in each city from largest to smallest school, to help you find the program that is best suited to your learning style and preferences.

Featured Schools

Chicagoland metro area

Chamberlain College of Nursing - Chicago

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
931 students
during the 2017 period

Resurrection University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
242 students
during the 2017 period

Loyola University Chicago

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
232 students
during the 2017 period

City Colleges of Chicago

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
169 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
20 students
during the 2017 period

DePaul University

Direct Entry MSN:
159 students
during the 2017 period

University of Illinois at Chicago

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
156 students
during the 2017 period

Direct Entry MSN:
41 students
during the 2017 period

Saint Xavier University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
155 students
during the 2017 period

Joliet Junior College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
141 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program):
59 students
during the 2017 period

Rush University

Direct Entry MSN:
136 students
during the 2017 period

Rasmussen College - Romeoville / Joliet

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
127 students
during the 2017 period

Northern Illinois University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
125 students
during the 2017 period

Lewis University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
116 students
during the 2017 period

College of DuPage

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
113 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program):
18 students
during the 2017 period

Aurora University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
104 students
during the 2017 period

Elgin Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
97 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program):
12 students
during the 2017 period

ATS Institute of Technology - Chicago

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
94 students
during the 2017 period

University of St. Francis

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
88 students
during the 2017 period

Harper College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
87 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
40 students
during the 2017 period

North Park University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
83 students
during the 2017 period

Northbrook College of Health Care

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
82 students
during the 2017 period

Ambria College of Nursing

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
78 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
50 students
during the 2017 period

Triton College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
77 students
during the 2017 period

Waubonsee Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
76 students
during the 2017 period

College of Lake County

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
71 students
during the 2017 period

Elmhurst College

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
67 students
during the 2017 period

Direct Entry MSN:
12 students
during the 2017 period

Northwestern College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
67 students
during the 2017 period

Moraine Valley Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
64 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program):
8 students
during the 2017 period

Kishwaukee College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
62 students
during the 2017 period

J'Renee College

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
61 students
during the 2017 period

Professional Career Certification and Training Institute

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
55 students
during the 2017 period

Morton College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
52 students
during the 2017 period

Oakton Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
51 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program):
7 students
during the 2017 period

Prairie State College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
46 students
during the 2017 period

Americare Technical School

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
34 students
during the 2017 period

Trinity Christian College

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
32 students
during the 2017 period

Dominican University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
30 students
during the 2017 period

McHenry County College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
24 students
during the 2017 period

Chicago State University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
22 students
during the 2017 period

Adonis College of Nursing

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
17 students
during the 2017 period

Great Paragon Healthcare

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
14 students
during the 2017 period

Illinois College of Nursing

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
13 students
during the 2017 period

CAAN Academy of Nursing

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
12 students
during the 2017 period

Robert Morris University Illinois

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
11 students
during the 2017 period

South Suburban College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
7 students
during the 2017 period

School

Program

Class size

Chamberlain College of Nursing - Chicago

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

931 students

Resurrection University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

242 students

Loyola University Chicago

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

232 students

City Colleges of Chicago

Associate's Degree in Nursing

169 students

Certificate in Practical Nursing

20 students

DePaul University

Direct Entry MSN

159 students

University of Illinois at Chicago

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

156 students

Direct Entry MSN

41 students

Saint Xavier University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

155 students

Joliet Junior College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

141 students

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program)

59 students

Rush University

Direct Entry MSN

136 students

Rasmussen College - Romeoville / Joliet

Associate's Degree in Nursing

127 students

Northern Illinois University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

125 students

Lewis University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

116 students

College of DuPage

Associate's Degree in Nursing

113 students

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program)

18 students

Aurora University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

104 students

Elgin Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

97 students

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program)

12 students

ATS Institute of Technology - Chicago

Certificate in Practical Nursing

94 students

University of St. Francis

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

88 students

Harper College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

87 students

Certificate in Practical Nursing

40 students

North Park University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

83 students

Northbrook College of Health Care

Certificate in Practical Nursing

82 students

Ambria College of Nursing

Associate's Degree in Nursing

78 students

Certificate in Practical Nursing

50 students

Triton College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

77 students

Waubonsee Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

76 students

College of Lake County

Associate's Degree in Nursing

71 students

Elmhurst College

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

67 students

Direct Entry MSN

12 students

Northwestern College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

67 students

Moraine Valley Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

64 students

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program)

8 students

Kishwaukee College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

62 students

J'Renee College

Certificate in Practical Nursing

61 students

Professional Career Certification and Training Institute

Certificate in Practical Nursing

55 students

Morton College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

52 students

Oakton Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

51 students

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program)

7 students

Prairie State College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

46 students

Americare Technical School

Certificate in Practical Nursing

34 students

Trinity Christian College

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

32 students

Dominican University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

30 students

McHenry County College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

24 students

Chicago State University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

22 students

Adonis College of Nursing

Certificate in Practical Nursing

17 students

Great Paragon Healthcare

Certificate in Practical Nursing

14 students

Illinois College of Nursing

Certificate in Practical Nursing

13 students

CAAN Academy of Nursing

Certificate in Practical Nursing

12 students

Robert Morris University Illinois

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

11 students

South Suburban College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

7 students

Peoria

Methodist College

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
165 students
during the 2017 period

Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
142 students
during the 2017 period

Bradley University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
90 students
during the 2017 period

Illinois Central College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
74 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
16 students
during the 2017 period

School

Program

Class size

Methodist College

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

165 students

Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

142 students

Bradley University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

90 students

Illinois Central College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

74 students

Certificate in Practical Nursing

16 students

Rockford

Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
87 students
during the 2017 period

Rockford University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
72 students
during the 2017 period

Rock Valley College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
40 students
during the 2017 period

School

Program

Class size

Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

87 students

Rockford University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

72 students

Rock Valley College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

40 students

Springfield

Capital Area School of Practical Nursing

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
115 students
during the 2017 period

Lincoln Land Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
96 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
22 students
during the 2017 period

St. John's College

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
57 students
during the 2017 period

School

Program

Class size

Capital Area School of Practical Nursing

Certificate in Practical Nursing

115 students

Lincoln Land Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

96 students

Certificate in Practical Nursing

22 students

St. John's College

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

57 students

St. Louis suburbs

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
245 students
during the 2017 period

Lewis and Clark Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
100 students
during the 2017 period

Southwestern Illinois College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
80 students
during the 2017 period

Kaskaskia College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
53 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
25 students
during the 2017 period

Beck School of Practical Nursing

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
45 students
during the 2017 period

CALC Institute of Technology

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
14 students
during the 2017 period

School

Program

Class size

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

245 students

Lewis and Clark Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

100 students

Southwestern Illinois College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

80 students

Kaskaskia College

Associate's Degree in Nursing

53 students

Certificate in Practical Nursing

25 students

Beck School of Practical Nursing

Certificate in Practical Nursing

45 students

CALC Institute of Technology

Certificate in Practical Nursing

14 students

Other Illinois cities

Illinois State University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
163 students
during the 2017 period

Lakeview College of Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
158 students
during the 2017 period

Olivet Nazarene University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
137 students
during the 2017 period

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
89 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program):
50 students
during the 2017 period

John A. Logan College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
69 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
48 students
during the 2017 period

Lake Land College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
69 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
44 students
during the 2017 period

Parkland College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
65 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
26 students
during the 2017 period

Illinois Valley Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
61 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
15 students
during the 2017 period

Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing & Health Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
60 students
during the 2017 period

Rend Lake College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
59 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program):
16 students
during the 2017 period

Millikin University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
55 students
during the 2017 period

Direct Entry MSN:
4 students
during the 2017 period

Kankakee Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
54 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
13 students
during the 2017 period

Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
54 students
during the 2017 period

Black Hawk College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
49 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
22 students
during the 2017 period

Carl Sandburg College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
48 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
13 students
during the 2017 period

Richland Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
46 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
8 students
during the 2017 period

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
41 students
during the 2017 period

Shawnee Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
38 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
22 students
during the 2017 period

Danville Area Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
32 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program):
29 students
during the 2017 period

Sauk Valley Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
32 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
22 students
during the 2017 period

Southeastern Illinois College

Certificate in Practical Nursing:
31 students
during the 2017 period

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
29 students
during the 2017 period

Highland Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
27 students
during the 2017 period

Heartland Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
26 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program):
11 students
during the 2017 period

MacMurray College

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
22 students
during the 2017 period

Graham Hospital School of Nursing

Diploma in Nursing:
19 students
during the 2017 period

John Wood Community College

Associate's Degree in Nursing:
19 students
during the 2017 period

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program):
16 students
during the 2017 period

Western Illinois University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
18 students
during the 2017 period

Spoon River College

Certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN Exit from RN Ladder Program):
15 students
during the 2017 period